I've got a beef with Lian Li...

Marvin

Marvin

Marvin

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Why do they insist on putting the PSU over the motherboard with their MATX/MITX cube-style cases (thinking the V354, Q07 and Q11)? It creates a massive, very visible cable mess, even with a modular PSU, and prevents side windows and so on.

Why not mount it behind the motherboard tray, and have holes in the tray for the required cables to come through? That way, you can have a side window, the case wouldn't be a mess, there'd be loads of space for cable stashing/putting extra drives and things (or maybe the optical drive on its side, pushed slightly into the space, so the case could be a little shorter overall), and the CPU cooler could potentially be larger or have mesh over it for the down-draft style coolers that are surely better than having a PSU sucking warm air from the CPU?

Maybe I'm no case designer for a reason, but surely that all makes sense? Especially taking the V354 where the PSU fan isn't really needed for ventilation - it's got 2 120mm fans at the front and a fan in the roof...
 
It would also make the case quite a bit wider...

I'm using an SFX PSU with the Lian Li PSU extender and it's made things much neater and cooler. There's also space inside the PSU extender to stuff unwanted cables which is great.
 
Borden said:
It would also make the case quite a bit wider...

I'm using an SFX PSU with the Lian Li PSU extender and it's made things much neater and cooler. There's also space inside the PSU extender to stuff unwanted cables which is great.
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I'm not convinced it would - look at the V354, the highest point of the mobo-section are the PCI slots, and the PSU is above that, so I don't think it would make it any wider. The only issue would be the rear fan would have to be a bit smaller, but with a roof fan that's not a massive problem.

Pic:

v354-06.jpg


I will admit the lack of MB-tray-removal-ness is an issue, but you'd perhaps have more space to begin with?
 
I'm actually designing my next case to look pretty much how you've described. Putting all the nasty gubbings like the PSU/HDDs etc. behind the mobo.
 
I'm not sure where they could move the PSU to make the likes of the Q07 and Q11 any better than they are, without making them larger. This would defeat their purpose as they are meant to be dinky. Indeed, I would argue that the whole mITX format is starting to suffer from feature creep, and their cases are getting bigger as their popularity grows... My Q11 is perhaps an example of this.

However, stuff like the the q08 and v354 aren't really pukka mITX in my eyes, so there's less excuse for dodgy/compromised design. It does seem that Lian Li have a rep for odd design decisions. For example layout of my mATX v351 is atrocious. I could do better.
 
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No one has mentioned these which would destroy my setup is:

If you moved the motherboard tray to the middle of the case, how the hell do I fit my TRUE120 onto my CPU without leaving the side off? How about my graphics card with side mounted PSU ports or a wide third party heatsink?

O wait I can't.

My motherboard that has right angle mounted SATA ports that now poke into the HDD caddie. The optical drive which is slightly longer than the 5.25" fitting now is hitting the edge of my motherbord. Why is 1/2 the intake from the front fans going behind the motherboard when there are components on it which need more air?

All problems with your idea that currently aren't issues. Don't get me wrong Marvin its not a bad idea, its just that Lian Li normally make their cases in a particular way for a reason after 15+ years.
 
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.:SAmSuNG:. said:
If they moved the PSU I couldnt use a big cooler in my Q07 with the Pico.
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I'm not entirely convinced Lian Li put the ATX PSU there to allow the very few people to mount a Pico-PSU to use a massive cooler...

I hear you Guardsmon - I hadn't realised you could get a cooler the size of a TRUE in the V354 in the stock configuration. It would still be nice if they'd consider maybe making a case in the style I suggested once in a while. I reckon it'd work especially well with the V350/351/352 cases.
 
One thing I wish they had done on the Q08 was to lower the PSU to the bottom so it isnt floating. More like the V354 than the Q07/11.

This would put less stress on the frame and allow space for an h50 push pull or an h70.
 
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Marvin said:
I hear you Guardsmon - I hadn't realised you could get a cooler the size of a TRUE in the V354 in the stock configuration. It would still be nice if they'd consider maybe making a case in the style I suggested once in a while. I reckon it'd work especially well with the V350/351/352 cases.
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I'll agree with you on the V350/1/2. The V352 is a dreadfully designed case internally. I got send one from a supplier after they couldn't provide the V351 I ordered and OMG there i no space at all for the power cables to run if you use a modular PSU as they stick out too far, but yet there is no space to fit all the cables if its not modular.
They also needed to make it another 1 inch longer or get rid of those stupid flaps on the 5.25" bay which does nothing except jam on cables. Also cut a few more cable holes wouldn't hurt.

Sorry started ranting off topic.
 
Guardsmon said:
I'll agree with you on the V350/1/2. The V352 is a dreadfully designed case internally. I got send one from a supplier after they couldn't provide the V351 I ordered and OMG there i no space at all for the power cables to run if you use a modular PSU as they stick out too far, but yet there is no space to fit all the cables if its not modular.
They also needed to make it another 1 inch longer or get rid of those stupid flaps on the 5.25" bay which does nothing except jam on cables. Also cut a few more cable holes wouldn't hurt.

Sorry started ranting off topic.
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There's a topic? :confused:

It was a rant thread - you can rant as well - you're ranting about Lian Li's MATX cases, so it's pretty close...

But yeah, the V351 is no better to be honest - I still have one in the loft.

The other problem I have with Lian Li is the finish they use is appalling. Looks amazing for 5 or maybe 6 seconds after removal from the box, then you put a feather on top of the case and thousands of small scratches appear, plus a million smudges from fingers...
 
Marvin said:
The other problem I have with Lian Li is the finish they use is appalling. Looks amazing for 5 or maybe 6 seconds after removal from the box, then you put a feather on top of the case and thousands of small scratches appear, plus a million smudges from fingers...
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Has anyone found a decent way to remove finger marks from Lian Li cases? If there was a good way to get them off it would make my HTPC a lot more "lounge friendly".
 
gropingmantis said:
Has anyone found a decent way to remove finger marks from Lian Li cases? If there was a good way to get them off it would make my HTPC a lot more "lounge friendly".
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Yes - alcohol! I use some aftershave, doesn't sound amazing but it works really well. Just remember not to use a paper towel. Use a cloth that isn't going to scratch.

Gropingmantis - just looked at your sig. My god thats a big overkill on the PSU dept. isn't it?!

As for the V351 I've worked with that as well and it is better than the V352, but the V350 just made so much more sense in term of ease of installation.
 
in the Q07 its very useful to act as an extraction fan over the CPU..

and with a modular bequiet in mine the cabling isnt overly cluttered.
 
Marvin said:
Really? How's the V352 worse and the V350 better? Just curious...
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Get pictures up of the 3.

If you look at the back, on the V352 the tray covers the HDD caddy as well which makes the fan controller impossible to keep connected when you remove the tray. The hard drive caddy on the V352 doesn't allow easy removal in any way shape or form.
The V352 has a clear top and bottom section separated by a sheet of metal which doesn't allow for easy cable management and means it all has to run down small passages and also sits under the PSU hindering the PSU airflow and again cable management, cables routed to the 5.25" bays have to go round and in just under the bezel as its the only access.
The PSU also being on the left if looking from the rear on the earlier models helped with moving air away from the components around the CPU which is needed compared the the GPU which normally has an exhaust fan and has clear air blowing over it from the intakes.

Comparing the 350 and 351 now I honestly can't remember why I felt the V350 was easier when working with it as the main differences only seem to be the front grill, intake fan mounting change, more cable access and slight change the to hdd caddy on the V351. O you can mount the front IO plate on either side on the 350 :D

So really its just that the V352 SUCKS! Compared to the previous models. :D
 
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